Oxygen Masks for Pets Could Save Lives When Disaster Strikes

October 3rd through 9th is National Fire Prevention Week in the United States and every year, school children across the country learn how to best protect themselves in the event of a fire. Unfortunately, those classes aren’t available for some of the most vulnerable members of our families — our pets. Thankfully, Wag’N Enterprises has a plan for your pets and your community.

The Wag'N O2 Fur Life Program allows first responders across the country access to critical equipment that can save your pet’s life. Pet Oxygen Masks are necessary to resuscitate animals suffering from smoke inhalation. Unfortunately, most municipalities across the country don’t allow their first responders (police, fire departments, EMS) to purchase equipment for non-human life support. Since its inception, the O2 Fur Life Program has provided more than 1,050 pet oxygen mask kits (each kit contains three masks) to Fire, EMS & Police.

Departments across the United States and Canada and “Pet Oxygen Masks on Board” decals for their stations and vehicles. Wag'N also offers pet parents and first responders the training necessary to effectively mitigate, prepare and respond to emergencies that impact pet health and safety. “We’re quickly finding out just how great of a need this is,” explains Ines de Pablo, Chief Wag’N Officer. “Dryer fires, furnace fires, pets knocking candles over with their tails, you name it, fires are started because of it. We were shocked to find that most fire departments aren’t equipped to save your pet’s life in an emergency. These pet oxygen masks can be used on dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, hamsters, alpacas, wolves and many more species.”

Pet oxygen masks can be purchased directly by first responders in the U.S. and Canada at www.Wagn4U.com/O2FurLife. Rescue units that cannot access funding or that have limited community support can apply for financial assistance to acquire a pet oxygen mask through the Wag'N O2 Fellowship Fund. Wag’Ns Fellowship Program uses donated monies to distribute pet oxygen masks nationally to organizations in need. Wag’N is also committed to helping communities raise enough money to sponsor local departments.

Included in each Wag’N O2 Fur Life Oxygen Mask Kit are a set of three pet oxygen masks and corresponding oxygen tubes (22 mm), a CPR For Cats & Dogs magnet and laminated instructions to remind first responders of necessary resuscitation steps, a leash, two “Pet Oxygen Masks On Board” decals for display at the station and on emergency vehicles, an instructional DVD presentation and a PowerPoint presentation to train emergency personnel—all wrapped up in a handy Wag’N O2 Fur Life carry bag that can also be used to contain small animals. Explains de Pablo, “We’re making great strides, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do. Our goal is to make every community across the country aware of the solutions that will help save the lives of pets and serving law enforcement K9s.”

About The Author

Ryan O'Meara is group editor at Total Pet Publishing. A former professional dog trainer, Ryan is a frequent commentator in the media on a wide variety of canine issues including dog attacks, animal welfare and dog behaviour.